Review by Library Journal Review
Hoping to find answers to living with autism, A Mother's Courage introduces severely autistic ten-year-old Keli Ericsdottir. His mother, Margret, determined to find a way to communicate with her son, embarks on a sojourn across the globe, traveling from their native Iceland to interview autism experts. As the latest information and research about this complex condition is uncovered, viewers begin to understand what is happening inside the autistic mind. Margret brings Keli to Austin, TX, to begin HALO (Helping Autism Through Learning and Outreach) therapy, and the results are impressive. Keli begins to communicate-in English, no less! Among the experts interviewed are Simon Baron-Cohen, Temple Grandin, and David Amaral. Originally aired on HBO, the film is technically first-rate and features a hauntingly beautiful score by Sigur Ros and Bjork. The sole drawback is the film's length-at 103 minutes, it is a bit long for use in an educational setting; however, it does have chapter options. Margret's voyage of discovery makes for compelling viewing; a worthwhile addition to public and academic libraries. Similar in approach, Oops, Wrong Planet! finds director Ramsay suspecting he may have Asperger's syndrome. On a quest for answers, he interviews experts and researchers (many of them also featured in A Mother's Courage), as well as other Asperger's sufferers, to uncover the wide range of symptoms and possible causes of the condition. Ramsay correlates the link between Asperger's and some of history's artistic and scientific geniuses, among them Hans Christian Andersen. Bringing this trait to light is interesting, but the director spends too much time analyzing Andersen's fairy tales and their possible representation of his affliction. This is indicative of the rambling feeling of the film, which would have benefited from tighter editing. That said, it is a solid introduction to Asperger's. Moving on to teenage sentiment, The Asperger's Difference presents the world of three "Aspies"-Annie, 13; Noah, 16; and Jeffrey, 18. As they relate their everyday experiences living with a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome, a cogent presentation of the characteristics, behaviors, and impact of the disorder takes shape. Divided into eight chapters, beginning with the question, "What is Asperger's?," the film continues through every aspect of Aspie life, from social skills and communication to the diagnosis, being bullied, and self-advocacy. An accompanying pamphlet includes details from each chapter in the form of questions. The three teens are engaging, charming, and proud to promote the positive side of being an Aspie. The content is top-notch and up-to-date, making this winner of a film an effective introduction to the topic for both Aspie and non-Aspie teens. It will also serve well as a training film for college-level health sciences audiences. All three programs provide answers to the daunting and mysterious worlds of these conditions.-Lori Widzinski, Health Sciences Lib., Univ. of Buffalo (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-Three teenagers tell about their experiences with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), a high-functioning form of autism, in this excellent film geared to teens with AS and those who wish to understand them better. The information is grouped logically, beginning with a description of AS and then discussing the challenges faced by those who have it. The majority of the program discusses the positive aspects of AS, such as heightened creativity and memory skills, along with solid tips for self-advocacy, such as when and how to disclose that one has AS. Though a narrator offers transitional comments between segments, interviews with teen provide the bulk of the program, and their stories about their own experience speak directly to their peers. The only downside to the program is that it contains neither captions nor subtitles, limiting its use for deaf and hard-of-hearing people with Asperger's and for those who process best through the written word.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
